Portable heater



' H. E. VARVEL PORTABLE HEATER Aug. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May5, 1961 YIINVENTOR.

mmow 3 V m a Pm WU flTTOR/VEY Aug. 20, 1963 H. E. VARVEL. 1, PORTABLEHEATER Filed May 5, 1961 I 2 Sheets-$heet 2 United States PatentVibrator Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 5, 1961,Ser. No. 103,060 Claims. (Cl. 263-19) This invention relates to a systemand apparatus particularly applicable to provide improvements inportable space heaters.

It has proven difficult to produce a portable heater which is economicalto fabricate, safe and efficient in operation. Conventional unitsgenerally require complex and expensive controls, particularly asrelated to their fuel supply systems. The present invention eliminatesthe need for such controls, thereby simplifying heater construction. Inaddition, it introduces a system and apparatus which insures arelatively large heat output free of carbon monoxide. The heater unitsare thereby rendered more safe and efficient in operation.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a space heater of aportable nature which is economical to fabricate, more efficient andsatisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications andunlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of spaceheaters, particularly those of a portable nature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable heater unitincorporating means insuring a simple effective delivery of fuel to itscombustion chamber in a manner to provide it with optimumcombustioncharacteristics.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a portable spaceheater including means which delivers fuel to its combustion chamberentrained in an excess of pressured air in a manner to provide for safeand complete combustion thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a heater construction whereinthe need for complex and sensitive controls is eliminated. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable heaterpossessing the advantageous structural fear tin-es, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

.With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters iatent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereshown one but obviously not necessarily the only formof embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a portable space heater in accordancewith the invention, shown partly in section for clarity of detail;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the unit shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic detail view of the fuel supply nozzle employed inthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The invention can be best described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The embodiment illustrated is supported in and by a pair ofvertically oriented frames 1 which are generally A-shaped. The framesare longitudinally spaced and inclined towards each other to their upperextremities.

Each frame is formed of a continuous length of tubing to provideupwardly convergent legs 2 bridged to their upper extremities by ahorizontally disposed portion 3. Each of the frames is braced by a bar 4fixed adjacent to and spaced from the lower extremities of'the legs 2 ina position generally parallel to its frame portion 3.

1A fuel tank 5 extends between and projects through the frames 1 to seaton and be anchored to the bars 4. As may be seen from FIG. 2 of thedrawings, the peripheral configuration of the tank 5, in a transversesense, is such that itsbase seats flush with and extends substantiallythe length of the bars 4 and its sides are upwardly convergent andimmediately confined by adjacent portions of the legs 2 which they abut.Thus, the tank 5 is securely confined by the frames 1 and forms a bracetherebetween.

The shell defining the tank 5 is axially extended to one end to providea cavity 6. The cavity 6 accommodates a vertically oriented bracketplate 7 which serves to mount an ignition transformer 8 therein. A cover9 which caps the cavity 6 is louvered to insure proper ventilation ofthe transformer 8.

Pairs of transversely aligned brackets 11 are rectangularly positionedon and fixed to the upper surface of the tank 5 between the frames 1.The respective. pairs of transversely aligned brackets include verticalplate portions which are generally parallel. Fixed to each of thevertical plate portions is an identical stud 12 having an enlarged headportion disposed outwardly thereof with reference to the tank 5. V

A cylindrical shell 13 is positioned in superposed relation to the tank5. Shell 13 includes rectangularly oriented vertically dependent plates14 centrally notched at their dependent extremities. The plates 14 areoriented so their notches accommodate the studs 12, by means of whichthe cylinder 13 may be slip-fit in an assembled relation toand in aposition overlying the fuel tank 5. In this overlying position thecylinder 13 extends between and projects through the frames 1 and hasits lowermost portion centrally oriented between the transverselyaligned brackets 11, in abutment with the upper surface of the fuel tank5. If desired, additional connections may be provided between the frames1 and the cylinder 13 by means of straps 15 which anchor to the framesand attach to the cylinder as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

Nested concentrically within the cylinder 13 by means of spacers 13 is asecond cylinder 16. The innermost end of the cylinder 16 is positionedadjacent the center of the cylinder 13 while its outermost end projectsto the discharge end of the cylinder 13. A comically. convergentextension 17 isprovided at the discharge end of the cylinder 13 forpurposes to be further described.

Cylinder 16 is closed to its innermost end by a plate 18 to form acombustion chamber 19 therewith. The plate 13 has a single centralaperture defined by a relatively short conically convergent tubularprojection 20 which extends inwardly of the chamber '19. A conicalshield 21 is positioned centrally of the opening to the end of cylinder16 remote from plate 18 to define an annular discharge passagethereabout.

The open end of a burner housing 22 is fixed about the opening definedby the projection 20 to the face of the plate 18 remote from thecombustion chamber 19. The

housing 22 is stepped to its end remote from the combus-' tion chamberand fixedly mounts a fuel delivery tube 23 concentric with its majoraxis. Connected to the rear- .most extremity of the tube 23, which isprojected relative the housing 22 is a fuel delivery line 24. The line24 communicates with fuel in the tank 5 through a filter tube 25.

Fixed in the burner housing 22 in concentric relation to and about thedelivery end of the tube 23 is an enclosure providing an aspiratingnozzle 26. The enclosure has one end fixed intermediate the extremitiesof the tube 23, its peripheral wall defines a cylindrical space aboutthe tube 23 and it is convergent to its discharge end which ispositioned in advance of the discharge end of the tube 23. A

single opening is provided centrally of the discharge end of nozzle 26in axial alignment with tube 23.

A delivery line 27 connected to the cylindrical space defined by thenozzle 26 serves as a medium for delivering compressed .air to moveoutwardly past the discharge end of tube 23 and through the dischargeopening in the nozzle 26 to draw fuel through the tube 23 in passing.The compressed air delivered through line 27 produces a suction or'aspiratin-g effect on the discharge end of tube 23. Moreover, thecompressed air not only draws fuel through the tube 23 but also atomizesit for delivery to the combustion chamber in an optimum condition.

Mounted in the end of the cylinder 13 remote from the discharge end ofthe combustion chamber 19 is an annular wire frame 2 8. The frame 23includes radial members which together support a motor 29 concentricallyof the cylinder 13, and in axial alignment with the burner housing 22.Motor 29 has a drive shaft 30 projected inwardly of the cylinder 13 to aposition adjacent and spaced from the burner housing 2.2 Where it mountsfan blades 31. The other end of the motor drive shaft extends in theopposite direction to serve as the drive means for a rotor in acompressor unit 32 fixed integral with the outermost end of the motor28. An air filter 33 is mounted in preceding relation to the compressor32. Air is drawn through the filter 33 and fed to the compressor formovement under pressure through a further filter 34- having a connectionto the delivery line 27. It may be seen that, on operation of the motor2 air is drawn into compressor 32 through the filter 3-3 :and movedunder pressure through the second filter 34 and the delivery line 27 tothe nozzle 26. As this compressed air moves past the delivery end of thetube 23 and through the discharge opening from nozzle 26, it aspiratesfuel from the tank and atomizes it as it moves it from the nozzle to thechamber 19.

As the motor drives the compressor, it simultaneously drives fan blades30. The blades 30, draw air in through the open end of the cylinder 13past the motor 29, and deliver it under pressure to and about chamber=19. The air moves through the passage defined between the cylinder 16and \13 and also through apertures 36 in the rear end of the burnerhousing 21. The latter provide for delivery of excess air under pressureto and through housing 22 to further atomize and entrain the aspiratedfuel under an enhanced pressure into chamber 19 and to its outer endcentrally of which is positioned the conical deflector 21. The deflector211 delays movement of the atomized fuel thereby to insure its completecombustion in chamber w, and also defines a discharge passage thereaboutfor the products of combustion.

Suitable electrical connection is provided between transformer 8 andigniter elements 38 which are oriented to project in advance of thenozzle 26. Also means are conventionally provided for suitablyconnecting the unit components to a source of power. In this manner asimple and highly efiicient space heater obtains.

Plugging the "heater unit to a power source causes the motor 29 tosimultaneously drive the compressor 32 and the fan blades 30. Thisproduces a simultaneous delivery of highly compressed air under asuitable pressure through nozzle 26 and additional air under pressureabout the nozzle and through the burner housing 22. The latter assistsin the aspiration, atomization and projection of the fuel drawn throughthe tube 23. The fuel, thus atomized and entrained passes to chamber 19and is ignited in passage by means of the igniter elements 38. The airdelivered through the housing 22 about nozzle 26 produces an excessthereof which more than adequately supports the combustion process inaddition to providing a highly cifective pressured dispersion of thefuel the length of the chamber 19. The shield 21 contains the projectedfuel sufficiently to enable the excess of air to accomplish its work andthereby prevent production of carbon monoxide. Thus, the inventioninsures safety in use of the heater unit provided. The convergentextension 17 on the cylinder '13 causes an acceleration of the airpassing between the cylinders 16 and 13 which is not only heated inpassing to a highly effective degree but also serves to draw theharmless products of combustion from the chamber 19 about shield 21.

To stop the operation of the heater unit it need merely be disconnectedfrom its source of power. It is a feature of the invention that thecomplete and pressured dispersion of the fuel in delivery to the chamber1% provides that there is a minimum of residue left as the heater ceasesoperation. It thus provides that there is little chance of creatingdangerous fumes.

Accordingly, the invention embodiment is simple to fabricate and veryehicient and offers maximum in safety in use. The manner of providing anaspirated and pressured delivery of fuel is a significant factor in thisrespect.

it will be clearly appreciated that various changes may be made in theparticular shapes and arrangement of parts, for example the framemembers 1 may be modified without in any way departing from the presentinvention. Further, the fan, motor and compressor may be physicallyseparated one from the other with either or both the fan 31 andcompressor 32 being belt or gear driven by the motor 22 From the abovedescription it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device ofthe character described possessing the particular features of advantagebefore enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible ofmodification in its form, proportions, detail construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved orsacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A portable space heater comprising, means defining an enclosure openat opposite ends, means defining a combustion chamber positioned Withinsaid enclosure to provide an air passage thereabout, said chamber havinglimited access and discharge openings at opposite ends, a burner housingunit covering said access opening and in communication with saidchamber, igniter means in said housing adjacent said access opening, afuel tank connected with said enclosure means having a fuel deliveryline connected in said burner housing unit, suction means connected insaid burner housing unit operative to draw fuel thereto from said tankthrough said fuel delivery line and convert it to an atomized conditionfor discharge from said housing unit into said chamber and past saidigniter means, and pressure means in said enclosure upstream of saidburner housing unit and separate from said suction means acceleratingthe discharge of atomized and ignited fuel from said housing to saidchamber.

2. A portable space heater comprising, a fuel tank, means defining acylindrical combustion chamber having a burner housing in communicationwith one end thereof and limited discharge opening from its oppositeend, a fuel delivery line extending from said tank into said burnerhousing, suction means aspirating fuel from said tank to said burnerhousing, including a nozzle projecting into said burner housing insurrounding relation therein to said fuel delivery line and receivingcompressed air, igniter means in said burner housing at the dischargeend of said nozzle, and means separate from said suction means providinga flow of compressed air through said burner housing past said nozzleand said igniter means, said separate means being in the form of a fanremoved upstream from said burner housing, the air of said fan furtherentraining the aspirated fuel under enhanced fiow conditions into saidcombustion chamber and supporting combustion therein.

3. A portable space heater comprising, a fuel tank, means defining ashell on said tank open to opposite ends, said shell having an aircompressor, a fan and a motor for driving said compressor and fan in oneend thereof, means defining a combustion chamber mounted in the otherend of said shell to provide an air passage thereabout, a housingconnected to and in communication with said chamber having means thereindefining a discharge nozzle, a fuel suction line connected in saiddischarge nozzle and to said tank, an air pressure line connected insaid discharge nozzle and to said compressor, operation of saidcompressor by said motor being eifective to discharge air under pressureand fuel under suction through said nozzle for discharge to said chamberin an atomized form, limited openings in said housing about said nozzle,said fan being operative to drive air under pressure through saidlimited openings to entnain and additionally atomize the fuel dischargedto-s'aid chamber and means for igniting the atomized fuel dischargedfrom said housing.

4. A portable space heater including, a pair of spaced frame elements, afuel tank'mounted thereon and, extending between said frame elements andcontained thereby, a tubular housing open to either end releasablymounted on said tank and contained by said frame elements, meansdefining a combustion chamber in said housing positioned to define apassage thereabout in communication with either end of said housing, anair compressor, a fan and a motor mounted in said housing to define afree air passage the-reabout, means including said air compressoroperable for delivering air under pressure and fuel under suction tosaid combustion chamber in an atomized condition and means includingsaid fan for supplying additional air under pressure through saidhousing to said combustion chamber to entrain and further latomize theair-fuel mixture and accelerate deliveiy thereof to said-combustionchamber.

. 5. A portable space heater comprising a cylindrical shell, means forsupporting said shell in a relatively ele- 6 vated position, a fuel tankin underlying relation to said shell, an inner cylinder Within saidshell having an outer end near one end of said shell and an inner endterminating intermediate the ends of said shell, closure means for theinner end of said cylinder having a longitudinal through openingtherein, a burner housing installed on said closure means'in closingrelation to said opening therein, said housing having openings laterallyoffset with respect to the axis of said opening in said closure means,said housing having a back Wall in longitudinally spaced relation tosaid closure means, an aspirating nozzle extending into said housingthrough :said back wall and having an'open discharge end facing saidopening in said closure means, a fuel delivery tube having one endreceived in said nozzle in alignment with said discharge end thereof,and another end extending into said fuel tank, air pressure generatingmeans installed in said shell between said inner end of :said cylinderand the other end of said shell including a fan arranged to blow airtoward said inner end of said cylinder to enter said housing by way ofsaid aterally ofis-et openings therein, said shell serving as a duct forsuch flow, and further including an air compressor, relatively smalldiameter tube means extending in non-communicating relation to saidshell from said compressor to said aspirating nozzle, the

air admitted to said nozzle aspirating fuel from said fuel delivery tubeand the air admitted to'said housing by Way of said laterally o-lfsetopenings discharging the aspirated fuel through said opening in saidinner end of said cylinders to the interior of said cylinder andsupporting combustion therein, and means for igniting the aspirated fuelin conjunction with its discharge into said cylinder. References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,379,179 Good May24,1-921 1,650,342 Good Nov. 22, 1927 2,518,364 Owen Aug. 8, 1950' 2,658,308 Fowler et a1 Nov. 10, 1953 2,866,627 Sherman Dec. 30, 19582,869,626 Sherman Jan. 20, 1959

1. A PORTABLE SPACE HEATER COMPRISING, MEANS DEFINING AN ENCLOSURE OPENAT OPPOSITE ENDS, MEANS DEFINING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER POSITIONED WITHINSAID ENCLOSURE TO PROVIDE AN AIR PASSAGE THEREABOUT, SAID CHAMBER HAVINGLIMITED ACCESS AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS AT OPPOSITE ENDS A BURNER HOUSINGUNIT COVERING SAID ACCESS OPENING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAIDCHAMBER, IGNITER MEANS IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID ACCESS OPENING, AFUEL TANK CONNECTED WITH SAID ENCLOSURE MEANS HAVING A FUEL DELIVERYLINE CONNECTED IN SAID BURNER HOUSING UNIT, SUCTION MEANS CONNECTED INSAID BURNER HOUSING UNIT OPERATIVE TO DRAW FUEL THERETO FROM SAID TANKTHROUGH SAID FUEL DELIVERY LINE AND CONVERT IT TO AN ATOMIZED CONDITIONFOR DISCHARGE FROM SAID HOUSING UNIT INTO SAID CHAMBER AND PAST SAIDIGNITER MEANS, AND PRESSURE MEANS IN SAID ENCLOSURE UPSTREAM OF SAIDBURNER HOUSING UNIT AND SEPARATE FROM SAID SUCTION MEANS ACCELERATINGTHE DISCHARGE OF ATOMIZED AND IGNITED FUEL FROM SAID HOUSING TO SAIDCHAMBER.